Mixing container for automatically mixing of hydraulically hardenable binding means



July 11, 1967 R. KALICH 3,330,540

MIXING CONTAINER FOR AUTOMATICALLY MIXING OF HYDRAULICALLY HARDENABLE BINDING MEANS Filed March 9, 1966 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent Claims. oi. 259-145 The present invention relates to a mixing container for automatically mixing hydraulically hardenable binding means, such as cement with water, at the bottom of which mixing container there is arranged an agitator movable from the outside. The binding material withdrawn from a storage container is through a pressuretight closable opening introduced into the mixing container while feeding lines for water and compressed air lead into said mixing container. Through a discharge opening at the bottom of the mixing container and a connecting line leading to a main mixing drum, the binding means-water mixture is by compressed air conveyed from said mixing container to said main mixing drum. The charging opening of the mixing container is adapted to be closed by a spherical cover engaging the mixing container from the inside and supported by a tiltable lever located outside the mixing container and laterally of the central axis thereof.

With the heretofore known mixing containers of the general character referred to above, the inlet opening is arranged in the central portion of the hood closing the mixing container at the top, and comprises an upwardly directed funnel which receives the feeding means for the binding means. However, if desired, the inlet opening does not have to be as large as it would be desirable in order to introduce the cement into the mixing container in a minimum of time because at least a path having the length of the diameter of the inlet opening is required for tilting the spherical cover toward the side. In other words, the mixing container hood must have a diameter at least equalling three times the diameter of the inlet opening. If this is not the case, the spherical cover which covers the inlet opening will during the introduction of the cement still extend into the inlet opening and will thus interfere not only with the proper charging of the cement but there will also be encountered sealing difliculties because the cement dropping onto the protruding portion of the cover will harden together with the spray water so that the cover can no longer properly tightly engage the inside of the mixing container. Moreover, due to the central arrangement of the inlet opening, the provision of feeding lines on the hood closing the mixing container will at least be made more difiicult or may even be made impossible if automatic closing, control and measuring devices are provided on the feeding lines. In particular, it is not possible on said hood to provide the drive for an agitator which extends from the top into the mixing container. Such drive of the agitator from the top, however, has a number of advantages. This is the reason why with another heretofore known arrangement of the type involved the downwardly extending agitator is driven through the intervention of a miter gear and a motor arranged laterally with regard to the mixing container. Due to the miter gear which is arranged in the mixing container, i.e. within the range of the mixing material, the servicing of the apparatus becomes expensive and liable to disturbances.

Another disadvantage of the above mentioned heretofore known apparatus consists in that while the cement when being filled into the mixing container, is caught by Claims 3,330,540 Patented July 11, 1967 the funnel and guided into the mixing container, a development of dust is unavoidable which causes the formation of a crust over the entire apparatus and thus causes damages when the crust is being removed.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a mixing container for automatically mixing hydraulically hardenable binding means, which will overcome the above mentioned drawbacks.

It is another object of this invention to provide a mixing container of the general type set forth above, which will permit the provision of a plurality of units on the hood closing the mixing container.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a mixing container as set forth in the preceding paragraphs, which will allow the provision of a drive extending from the top into the mixing container.

A further object of this invention consists in the provision of a mixing container as set forth above, which will permit making the inlet opening sufficiently wide to allow the introduction of cement into the mixing container in a minimum of time while avoiding the development of dust.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a mixing container which will permit a proper seal thereof in closed condition of the container.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a cross section through a hood or cover for a mixing container according to the invention with an inlet connection mounted thereon.

FIG. 2 illustrates that portion of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale which is encircled in FIG. 1 by the dot-dash circle C.

FIG. 3 illustrates a section through a modified closure arrangement according to the invention.

The present invention is characterized primarily in that the inlet opening into the mixing container is eccentrically arranged therewith and is adapted to be closed by a cover at the top of the container.

According to a further feature of the invention, the cover itself may consist of elastic material, such as rubber of sufiicient strength but with a sufficient soft surface, or it may be lined with elastic material, such as rubber which is adapted sealingly to engage a seat of metal or synthetic material adapted to repel the binding means.

In order to prevent deposits on the cover from growing beyond a desired extent, the inlet connection connecting the inlet opening with the feeding line for the binding means has at its free end face a tubular member which is evenly spaced from the inner wall of the inlet connection and is connected thereto in a dust-proof manner. The tubular member, on one hand, protrudes beyond the inlet connection while the other end is located within the inlet opening and is surrounded by an annular water line with downwardly extending nozzles.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the mixing container generally designated 11 as illustrated in the drawing is closed toward the top by a hood or cover 14. Eccentrically arranged with regard to the container cover 14 there is provided an inlet opening 31 around which there is mounted a tubular inlet connection 32. The inlet opening 31 may be closed by a cover 12 adapted from the inside to engage the mixing container 11. Cover 12 may be provided with a layer of elastic material 44 whereby a particularly satisfactory seal will be obtained. The seat 43 of the spherical cover 14 consists of metal, such as bronze, or synthetic material, such as rubber, which will repel or reject the binding means.

According to a further feature of the invention, with a mixing container in which the spherical cover 12 is supported by a lever adapted to be tilted by means of a crank below the cover 14, that side of the crank which faces the pivot bearing for said lever geometrically forms a circle segment the center point of which is located on the axis of the pivot bearing. This side of the crank extends through the inlet connection which establishes communication between the inlet opening and the feeding line for the binding means. One end of the crank supports a plate adapted tightly to cover the inlet connection. This plate will, when freeing the inlet opening, by means of the spherical cover rest on the opening of the inlet connection in such a way that the unavoidably forming dust will not be able during the charging of the binding means into the mixing container, to escape outwardly and thereby to form crusts on the container. In order to prevent the binding means from settling on this plate, the plate may be shaped in conformity with the shape of said opening so as to be able during the tilting movement of the lever to enter said opening. In this instance, the plate will be flush With the inner wall of the inlet connection and will not interfere with the charging of the binding means. That side of the crank which faces the spherical cover 12 may also be resilient in order to assure that cover 12 will, when closing the inlet opening, lightly engage the seat below the inlet opening so that losses in pressure during the feeding of mixing material by compressed air will be avoided.

For the same reason, a rubber seal may be provided at the bottom edge of the inlet connection which preferably extends into the cover of the mixing container. To this end, a rubber ringO-ringwith suitable preferably round cross section is pressed into a groove. The rubber seal saves a machining of the top side of the spherical cover 12 because rough parts or deposits will be compensated for by the elasticity of the rubber seal. An advantageously dovetail-shaped groove prevents a detachment of the rubber ring. Preferably, the groove is provided with unevenly long legs while that leg which faces the inlet opening is the shorter one so that the spherical cover will snugly engage the seal but will be unable to compress the seal beyond an admissible extent because, while still sealing properly, it will abut against the inside of the mixing container at the end face of the inlet connection.

More specifically, cover 12 is by means of a crank 33, 34 connected to a lever 13. Crank section 33 is adapted to pull the spherical cover 12 resiliently against a rubber seal 35 which is inserted in a dovetail-shaped groove 36. Groove 36 has unevenly long legs 36a and 36b which approximately correspond to the curvature of cover 12 to be pressed against the container. That side of crank 34 which faces the pivot bearing 9 of lever 13 forms a circular section the center point of which is located on the axis of the pivot bearing 9. This section of crank 34 passes through an opening 37 in the charging passage 32. A plate 38 arranged at the end of crank section 34 will in the open position of cover 12 enter the opening 37 as shown in dash lines in FIG. 1 and will thus close the said opening 37 toward the outside.

Coaxially arranged with regard to the inlet connection 32 there is a tubular member 39 which has that portion 39a thereof which protrudes beyond the inlet connection 32 arranged for receiving elastic connecting means, such as hoses, while the portion 39b of said tubular member 39 extends into the inlet connection 32 and shields a water line 40 against binding means dropping into the container. Water line 49 has downwardly directed nozzle means or openings 41 which, when introducing water into the mixing container, will spray cover 12 and clean the same from any cement or cement water residue which might deposit thereon.

As will be seen from the above, the arrangement of the charging opening eccentrically with regard to the mixing container makes it possible that the spherical cover, which is adapted to close the charging opening, can be tilted far enough inside said mixing container to fully free a sufficiently large inlet opening. Moreover, this arrangement also makes possible the mounting of a plurality of units on the cover because the inlet opening, even with a funnel or inlet connection mounted thereon, leaves still sufiicient space for mounting additional feeding lines or a drive extending from the top into the mixing container. The binding means which now drops into the mixing container eccentrically with regard thereto is immediately caught by the strong flow forming along the walls of the mixing container and is conveyed to the agitator. In this way, also the formation of cement nests will be prevented.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular arrangements shown in the drawing but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

A cover according to the present invention may be used e.g. in connection with an apparatus as disclosed in my copending application entitled Method of and Apparatus for Mixing Hydraulically Hardenable Binding Material and Water and filed of even date herewith. It may also be added that arm 33 of the crank 33, 34 may be slightly resilient.

It is furthermore to be understood that advantageously cover 12 is continuously urged sealingly to engage seat 35 at the inner end of said tubular member 32. This may be effected for instance by a spring. The movement of cover 12 away from its seat 35 may be elfected manually by correspondingly tilting arm 13 in counter-clockwise direction.

What I claim is:

1. In a mixing apparatus including a container for automatically mixing hydraulically hardenable binding material, especially cement, with water: first cover means forming the top portion of said container, said first cover means having an opening therethrough eccentrically arranged in said first cover means, main tubular means arranged in said opening and connected to said first cover means while outwardly protruding therefrom, the inner end of said main tubular means forming a discharge opening leading into the interior of said container and being adapted selectively to be closed and opened, said tubular means being adapted to receive binding material and discharge the same into said container, that side portion of said tubular means which is adjacent the central portion of said first cover means having a passage therethrough, second cover means arranged within said container and being continuously urged into closing engagement with said inner end of said main tubular means for closing said discharge opening, said second cover means being operable to disengage said main tubular means and to move into a maximum opening position to fully free said opening, lever means pivotally supported by said main cover means and including a cranked portion having first arm means extending from the outside of said container and the outside of said main tubular means into the interior of the latter and also having second arm means interconnecting said first arm means and said second cover means and being operable to move said second cover means out of its closing engagement with said main tubular means to said maximum opening position, and closure means carried by said lever means and operable to close said passage when said second cover means occupies its maximum opening position.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the shape of said first arm means follows the contour of a circle having its center approximately in the axis about which said lever means is pivotable.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which at least a portion of said second cover means has a contour corresponding to that of said passage and is adapted to enter the same when closing said passage.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said second arm means is resilient.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said second cover means has a spherical shape arched toward the interior of said main tubular means, and in which the inner end of said main tubular means is provided with a dovetailed groove, and O-ring means confined in said groove and adapted sealingly to be engaged by the marginal area of said second cover means.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, in which the dovetailed cross section of said groove is such that the leg adjacent the interior of said main tubular means is shorter than the other leg remote therefrom.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said second cover means has a spherical shape arched toward the interior of said main tubular means, and in which that surface of said second cover means which faces the interior of said main tubular means is covered with elastic material inert with regard to a cement-water paste.

-8. An apparatus. according to claim 1, in which said second cover means has a spherical shape arched toward the interior of said main tubular means and consists of elastic material of suitable strength.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the inner end of said main tubular means forms a sealing seat for engagement with said second cover means, sai seat consisting of synthetic material inert with regard l a cement-water paste.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which t1 outer end of said outwardly protruding portion of sai main tubular means has radially inwardly extending fiang means, additional tubular means arranged within sai main tubular means in radially spaced relationship then to so as to confine therewith annular passage means, sai additional tubular means being supported by and cor nected to said flange means, and conduit means adapte to be connected with a water supply source and arrange within said annular passage means, said conduit mean being provided with downwardly directed nozzle openin means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,919,212 7/1933 Eggert 220-2 1,987,560 1/1935 Jaeger 2202 2,657,823 11/ 1953 Skinner 220-25 1 2,858,116 10/1958 Hale 259-15 2,899,182 8/1959 Ridley 25915 WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner. R. W. JENKINS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A MIXING APPARATUS INCLUDING A CONTAINER FOR AUTOMATICALLY MIXING HYDRAULICALLY HARDENABLE BINDING MATERIAL, ESPECIALLY CEMENT, WITH WATER: FIRST COVER MEANS FORMING THE TOP PORTION OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID FIRST COVER MEANS HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH ECCENTRICALLY ARRANGED IN SAID FIRST COVER MEANS, MAIN TUBULAR MEANS ARRANGED IN SAID OPENING AND CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST COVER MEANS WHILE OUTWARDLY PROTRUDING THEREFROM, THE INNER END OF SAID MAIN TUBULAR MEANS FORMING A DISCHARGE OPENING LEADING INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID CONTAINER AND BEING ADAPTED SELECTIVELY TO BE CLOSED AND OPENED, SAID TUBULAR MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE BINDING MATERIAL AND DISCHARGE THE SAME INTO SAID CONTAINER, THAT SIDE PORTION OF SAID TUBULAR MEANS WHICH IS ADJACENT THE CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID FIRST COVER MEANS HAVING A PASSAGE THERETHROUGH, SECOND COVER MEANS ARRANGED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER AND BEING CONTINUOUSLY URGED INTO CLOSING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID INNER END OF SAID MAIN TUBULAR MEANS FOR CLOSING SAID DISCHARGE OPENING, SAID SECOND COVER MEANS BEING OPERABLE TO DISENGAGE SAID TUBULAR MEANS AND TO MOVE INTO A MAXIMUM OPENING POSITION TO FULLY FREE SAID OPENING, LEER MEANS PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED BY SAID MAIN COVER MEANS AND INCLUDING A CRANKED PORTION HAVING FIRST ARM MEANS EXTENDING FROM THE OUTSIDE OF SAID CONTAINER AND THE OUTSIDE OF SAID MAIN TUBULAR MEANS INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE LATTER AND ALSO HAVING SECOND ARM MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID FIRST ARM MEANS AND SAID SECOND COVER MEANS AND BEING OPERABLE TO MOVE SAID SECOND COVER MEANS OUT OF ITS CLOSING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID MAIN TUBULAR MEANS TO SAID MAXIMUM OPENING POSITION, AND CLOSURE MEANS CARRIED BY SAID LEVER MEANS AND OPERABLE TO CLOSE SAID PASSAGE WHEN SAID SECOND COVER MEANS OCCUPIES ITS MAXIMUM OPENING POSITION. 